PHOTOS: Outlook worsens for small businesses, traditional markets

SEOUL, June 04 (AJU PRESS) - The perceived economic outlook of small businesses and traditional markets has deteriorated for the second consecutive month. According to a report released by the Small Enterprise And Market Service on June 3, the business sentiment index (BSI) for small businesses in June was 67.4, down 7 points from the previous month. The BSI for traditional markets in June was 63, down 3.7 points from the previous month. A BSI reading above 100 indicates that more firms be

June 4, 2024

Analysts urge caution after announcement of possible oil, gas reserve

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) – Analysts urged investors to be cautious after the government approved oil and natural gas exploration in the southern industrial city of Pohang, expecting that up to $1.4 trillion worth of resources could be buried. During a briefing on Monday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said up to 14 billion barrels of oil and gas are expected to be stored in the waters off Yeongil Bay in Pohang. Citing a geophysical study conducted by U.S. geoscience consulting fir

June 4, 2024

BTS' Jin set to meet fans after completing military service

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) - Jin of boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, will make his return to fans next week after completing his mandatory military service for 18 months. He will be discharged from the military on June 12 and will meet fans in Seoul the following day, his management agency HYBE said in a press release early this week. June 13 marks the day when the iconic K-pop band made their debut in 2013. Jin, the eldest of the band, was the first to enlist in the army

June 4, 2024

South Korea to resume military drills near border with N. Korea

SEOUL, June 04 (AJU PRESS) - South Korea’s military will resume artillery firing and other training exercises near the border with North Korea, following the government’s suspension of the Sept. 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The move came in response to a series of North Korean provocations, including last November’s launch of a military spy satellite and recent landings of trash-carrying balloons in South Korea. The resumption of military drills

June 4, 2024

UAE Embassy in Seoul offers AI-assisted consular service

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) - The United Arab Emirates Embassy in Seoul has embraced artificial intelligence (AI) for visa issuance and other consular services, becoming the world's first embassy to do so. The embassy said last week that the AI-assisted services using facial recognition and hologram technologies will allow UAE nationals or other applicants to easily apply for visas and submit required documents through an AI-powered platform. The services are part of the UAE

June 4, 2024

LS Cable to invest 100 billion won in Donghae submarine cable factory expansion

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) - LS Cable & System plans to invest about 100 billion won ($75 million) to expand its submarine cable factory in the eastern city of Donghae, Gangwon Province. The company signed an investment agreement with local authorities on Monday to fund the construction of a fifth submarine cable building, covering an area of 19,451 square meters (209,387 square feet). Upon completion in the second half of next year, the facility will quadruple LS Cable's

June 4, 2024

Seoul Tourism Organization launches new app for foreigners' travel pass

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) - The Seoul Tourism Organization (STO) announced on Wednesday the launch of a new mobile application for its Discover Seoul Pass, a tourist pass designed to provide foreign visitors with access to various attractions and facilities in Seoul at discounted rates or for free. According to the STO, the updated app aims to improve user convenience by offering a more mobile-friendly interface compared to the previous web view format. The app also introduces new f

June 4, 2024

Opinion: Mexico has elected its first female president. Claudia Sheinbaum inherits a country ravaged by violence – and searching for hope

SEOUL, June 4 (AJU PRESS) - On Oct. 17, 1953, constitutional reform granted women the right to vote in Mexico, and two years later, women cast ballots for the first time in a federal election. Now, nearly 70 years later, Mexico has elected a woman president for the first time, according to an official quick count. Claudia Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City with a PhD in energy engineering, is also the first Jewish person to lead Mexico, where 70 percent of the populatio

June 4, 2024

PHOTOS: Lawyers protest police probe

SEOUL, June 3 (AJU PRESS) - The Korean Bar Association held a rally in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Jongno, Seoul, on Monday, protesting the police investigation into lawyers who provided legal consultations to the Korean Medical Association. Police have recently summoned and questioned some lawyers who have been serving the doctors’ lobby, which is at odds with President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration over the government's plan to increase medical school enr

June 3, 2024

PHOTOS: Exhibition marks 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty

SEOUL, June 3 (AJU PRESS) - A special exhibition celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty is being held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from April 13 to Aug. 13. The exhibition, based on the history of Sanrio, the creator of Hello Kitty, showcases the birth of Hello Kitty, various concept arts, vintage exhibits and related video materials. Alongside Hello Kitty, other popular characters such as My Melody, Kuromi, Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin are also on display.

June 3, 2024